Peppered cory: how to make him happiest?

[scott1000]

I recently bought a peppered cory cat to clean the bottom of my tank, but I didn't realize at the time that they are a schooling fish. So I'm trying to decide if I want to go get one or two more to give him a friend(s). The problem is that I'm already nearly fully stocked, if not already overstocked. Here's my setup:

Eclipse 6 gallon tank.
Filter has a bio-wheel and cartridge w/ carbon, 75GPH or cycles the tank 12.5 times per hour.
Heavily planted.

Fish:
2 dwarf puffers (.75" each)
3 harlequin rasboras (.75" each)
1 pepperred cory cat (1")
2 ghost shrimp (added yesterday, will probably soon be food for puffers)

I will have a larger 55 gallon tank in the summer (1-2 months) at which time I will move the rasboras out.

I do 33% water changes about 3 times per week (spoiled fish ).

Do you think my fish will be happier overall if I add one or two more peppered cory cats or just leave it like it is? Thanks!

 

[Nina7777]

You really should get at least one more cory. They will be very very shy and skiddish and IME might even get depressed and die if they are kept alone. I don't know anything about puffers, so I don't know their tank requirements, but see what others think, about if you have enough space or not for one more cory.

 

[scott1000]

Thanks Nina!

Any other thoughts?

 

[cutechic]

You can keep corys with dwarf puffers?

I agree with Nina, you should definitely get another cory. With the freqency of water changes that you are doing, one more cory should not put too much strain on the bioload.

 

[scott1000]

You can keep corys with dwarf puffers?

Interestingly enough my puffers have never bothered the cory. One of them seems interested in nipping the fins of my rasboras though . However they totally ignore the cory even when it eats that nice bloodworm they had been stalking.

Ok, it's decided, 1 new cory? Or should I try and push it and get 2 more?

Thanks!

 

[Nina7777]

well thats up to you. You know your tank better than we do, and you also know how well you take care of your tank. Your little guy should be fine with a buddy, but if you really want another one, its really your decision.

I bought three and only 2 hang out together. I think your little guy will just be so happy to have a friend that it wont really matter if its one or two. Just my opinion though

 

[scott1000]

Ok, I got him a friend today. He seems to still be settling in, but hopefully he'll do well. THanks for y'all's help!